The trailer for Taymor’s forthcoming sound-and-lights extravaganza Tempest is now on YouTube:
It’s supposed to open Dec 10. Maybe the class should all go together on our last night, 12/14?
Thanks to Tara for the link.
Update: Watched it again today & it looks fun, if perhaps a bit over-the-top. Sorcery. Passion. Stupidity. Treachery. Revenge — so go the subtitles. An interesting summary, I suppose?
We certainly should go on 12/14. Anybody know a movie theater close to campus?
I think that would be a nice way to end the semester. While I’m not sure it will be the greatest film ever, it does have a great cast and watching Russell Brand perform Shakespeare is guaranteed to provoke a few laughs.
I agree, I think this would be a blast. I was tickled by the “Revenge” subtitle since that’s where my head is right now.
I will bring duct tape to cover my mouth so I won’t be obnoxious if Taymor alters the script to “Thy *father* was a piece of virtue” …
I had to do a double take when I saw Brand. It’s bad enough he’s doing the remake of Arthur. I’m really intrigued to see how he will handle Shakespeare. I have to say though, the trailer had a bit of a Harry Potter feel to it.
I thought more Percy Jackson than Harry Potter, but maybe that’s just what my kids are into right now. I agree about the sound & light show. Maybe all movie magic looks the same these days? I certainly think that *The Tempest* itself was, among other things, a reaction to the new possibilities of the indoor theater that Shakespeare’s company had recently acquired. I think Andrew Gurr writes about this in our Norton ed. It’s interesting to think about modern film-makers being in comparable positions with computer-generated material.
On Friday I had dinner with a bunch of Shakespeareans (including Nicole’s professor from MSU) & talked with someone who’s seen a preview of the film. Her report gave two enthusiastic thumbs up. She said the mother-daughter stuff was great, & also that Taymor’s style really transformed the masque of the goddesses in Act 4.
I’m still suspicious of the sound & lights show, but I’m looking forward to it.